St. Andrew's Church (Toronto)
Encyclopedia
St. Andrew's Church, 73 Simcoe Street, Toronto is a large and historic Romanesque Revival
Presbyterian
church in downtown Toronto
, Canada
.
congregation in the Town of York. The original church was located at the southwest corner of Church and Adelaide East Streets. After the 1843 split of the Presbyterian Church in Scotland, a portion of the congregation supportive of the Free Church Movement left St. Andrew's the following summer and founded Knox Presbyterian
along with another group led by Rev. James Harris that had been separate since 1834.
The original St Andrew's building eventually proved too small, and the church moved to its current location on the southeast corner of King and Simcoe Streets in 1876. This westward move caused some controversy, and the church split over the issue. One group (62 of 403 members) continued in the old church, which became known as Old St. Andrew's. This group moved in 1878 to a new building located on nearby Jarvis Street. It continued until 1951 when Old St. Andrew's United Church joined with Westminster (formerly Yorkville Presbyterian) - Central (formerly Methodist) to become St. Andrew's United at 117 Bloor Street East. The Old St. Andrew's building was sold to another denomination and became St. Andrew's Evangelical Lutheran Church
.
The main congregation moved to the new Scottish Romanesque church that became known as New St. Andrew's. This building was designed by noted Toronto architect W. G. Storm and the church was the central Presbyterian church in Toronto, with an addition and renovation in 1906. It and became especially well known under the ministry of renowned orator Rev. D. J. Macdonnell (1870-1896) who pushed the church towards an active social role, and was the centre of a heresy trial in 1876, a minor bump in the recently-formed Presbyterian Church in Canada
. King and Simcoe became the central intersection of Toronto. The four corners popularly said to represent the four parts of society: Salvation, the church; Legislation the Lieutenant-Governor's Residence; Education, the original home of Upper Canada College; and damnation, a tavern.
The congregation was one of the most active in opposition to the union that saw the majority of Canadian Presbyterian churches join the United Church of Canada
in 1925. The St. Andrew's congregation, under the leadership of Rev. Dr. Stuart C. Parker voted 94% (19-733) against joining the new church. It was at St. Andrew's that representatives of the remaining Presbyterian churches from across Canada met for a "Congress", as well as the General Assembly of the Continuing Presbyterian Church
in June 1925, and 73 Simcoe Street was the postal address for the anti-Church Union group, the Presbyterian Church Association.
Later in the 20th century, the church's downtown location presented a challenge to St. Andrew's, the area had become largely industrial and later one of the poorest in the city. Increasingly, the church patrons were living further north. There were thus many discussions of again moving the church, but each time the congregation voted to remain put.
Eventually the revival of the downtown core in the 1970s and 1980s, began with the opening of the St. Andrew Subway Station
at nearby University Avenue in 1963. Further redevelopment of the area, has included the addition of the Roy Thomson Hall
on the south west corner of Simcoe and King Streets, and has transformed the neighbourhood, and the church is again prospering. After acquiring air rights from new buildings in the area, there was an extensive rebuilding at the south end, including construction of a new condominium tower in which the congregation retained the first three floors.
The congregation has taken leadership in ministry to the poor, with "Out of the Cold", coordinated by famous author Stevie Cameron
, and a Boarding Homes Ministry, as well as involvement with the Presbyterian Church in Canada
's Evangel Hall.
The congregation also maintains ties with its Scottish
roots. The 48th Highlanders Regiment
have a strong link with the congregation, and in March 2005, to celebrate their 175th Anniversary as a congregation, the Moderator
of the Church of Scotland
, Dr. Alison Elliot
, was involved as their Anniversary Speaker. The regiment's museum is located in the basement of the church. The museum includes regimental uniforms, medals, photographs, weapons and other artifacts. Founded in 1959, the museum opened in its current location in 1997.
+--died during Ministry in congregation.
Romanesque Revival architecture
Romanesque Revival is a style of building employed beginning in the mid 19th century inspired by the 11th and 12th century Romanesque architecture...
Presbyterian
Presbyterian Church in Canada
The Presbyterian Church in Canada is the name of a Protestant Christian church, of presbyterian and reformed theology and polity, serving in Canada under this name since 1875, although the United Church of Canada claimed the right to the name from 1925 to 1939...
church in downtown Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
.
History
The congregation was founded in 1830 as the first Church of ScotlandChurch of Scotland
The Church of Scotland, known informally by its Scots language name, the Kirk, is a Presbyterian church, decisively shaped by the Scottish Reformation....
congregation in the Town of York. The original church was located at the southwest corner of Church and Adelaide East Streets. After the 1843 split of the Presbyterian Church in Scotland, a portion of the congregation supportive of the Free Church Movement left St. Andrew's the following summer and founded Knox Presbyterian
Knox Presbyterian Church (Toronto)
Knox Presbyterian Church is a Presbyterian church in downtown Toronto, Canada.-History:In 1820 the first Presbyterian congregation in Toronto was formed, and after the donation of land from Jessie Ketchum, built a church on Richmond Street...
along with another group led by Rev. James Harris that had been separate since 1834.
The original St Andrew's building eventually proved too small, and the church moved to its current location on the southeast corner of King and Simcoe Streets in 1876. This westward move caused some controversy, and the church split over the issue. One group (62 of 403 members) continued in the old church, which became known as Old St. Andrew's. This group moved in 1878 to a new building located on nearby Jarvis Street. It continued until 1951 when Old St. Andrew's United Church joined with Westminster (formerly Yorkville Presbyterian) - Central (formerly Methodist) to become St. Andrew's United at 117 Bloor Street East. The Old St. Andrew's building was sold to another denomination and became St. Andrew's Evangelical Lutheran Church
St. Andrew's Evangelical Lutheran Church (Toronto)
St. Andrew's Evangelical Lutheran Church is an Evangelical Lutheran church in downtown Toronto serving the Latvian and Estonian population of Toronto. It is home to two congregations: St. Andrew's Evangelical Lutheran Estonian and St. Andrew's Evangelical Lutheran Latvian.The church was originally...
.
The main congregation moved to the new Scottish Romanesque church that became known as New St. Andrew's. This building was designed by noted Toronto architect W. G. Storm and the church was the central Presbyterian church in Toronto, with an addition and renovation in 1906. It and became especially well known under the ministry of renowned orator Rev. D. J. Macdonnell (1870-1896) who pushed the church towards an active social role, and was the centre of a heresy trial in 1876, a minor bump in the recently-formed Presbyterian Church in Canada
Presbyterian Church in Canada
The Presbyterian Church in Canada is the name of a Protestant Christian church, of presbyterian and reformed theology and polity, serving in Canada under this name since 1875, although the United Church of Canada claimed the right to the name from 1925 to 1939...
. King and Simcoe became the central intersection of Toronto. The four corners popularly said to represent the four parts of society: Salvation, the church; Legislation the Lieutenant-Governor's Residence; Education, the original home of Upper Canada College; and damnation, a tavern.
The congregation was one of the most active in opposition to the union that saw the majority of Canadian Presbyterian churches join the United Church of Canada
United Church of Canada
The United Church of Canada is a Protestant Christian denomination in Canada. It is the largest Protestant church and, after the Roman Catholic Church, the second-largest Christian church in Canada...
in 1925. The St. Andrew's congregation, under the leadership of Rev. Dr. Stuart C. Parker voted 94% (19-733) against joining the new church. It was at St. Andrew's that representatives of the remaining Presbyterian churches from across Canada met for a "Congress", as well as the General Assembly of the Continuing Presbyterian Church
Presbyterian Church in Canada
The Presbyterian Church in Canada is the name of a Protestant Christian church, of presbyterian and reformed theology and polity, serving in Canada under this name since 1875, although the United Church of Canada claimed the right to the name from 1925 to 1939...
in June 1925, and 73 Simcoe Street was the postal address for the anti-Church Union group, the Presbyterian Church Association.
Later in the 20th century, the church's downtown location presented a challenge to St. Andrew's, the area had become largely industrial and later one of the poorest in the city. Increasingly, the church patrons were living further north. There were thus many discussions of again moving the church, but each time the congregation voted to remain put.
Eventually the revival of the downtown core in the 1970s and 1980s, began with the opening of the St. Andrew Subway Station
St. Andrew (TTC)
St. Andrew is a station on the Yonge–University–Spadina line of the Toronto, Ontario, Canada subway. It is located at 147 University Avenue at King Street West. It opened in 1963, named for the nearby St...
at nearby University Avenue in 1963. Further redevelopment of the area, has included the addition of the Roy Thomson Hall
Roy Thomson Hall
Roy Thomson Hall is a concert hall located at 60 Simcoe Street in Toronto, Ontario. It is the home of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra and the Toronto Mendelssohn Choir. Opened in 1982, its circular architectural design exhibits a sloping and curvilinear glass exterior. It was designed by Canadian...
on the south west corner of Simcoe and King Streets, and has transformed the neighbourhood, and the church is again prospering. After acquiring air rights from new buildings in the area, there was an extensive rebuilding at the south end, including construction of a new condominium tower in which the congregation retained the first three floors.
The congregation has taken leadership in ministry to the poor, with "Out of the Cold", coordinated by famous author Stevie Cameron
Stevie Cameron
Stevie Cameron is an award-winning Canadian investigative journalist and best-selling author. Born in Belleville, Ontario in 1943, she now lives in Toronto with her husband, David Cameron, a professor at the University of Toronto. They have two daughters; both Toronto-based screenwriters.-Early...
, and a Boarding Homes Ministry, as well as involvement with the Presbyterian Church in Canada
Presbyterian Church in Canada
The Presbyterian Church in Canada is the name of a Protestant Christian church, of presbyterian and reformed theology and polity, serving in Canada under this name since 1875, although the United Church of Canada claimed the right to the name from 1925 to 1939...
's Evangel Hall.
The congregation also maintains ties with its Scottish
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
roots. The 48th Highlanders Regiment
48th Highlanders of Canada
The 48th Highlanders of Canada is a Canadian Forces Primary Reserve infantry regiment based in Toronto, parading out of Moss Park Armoury. The regiment is part of Land Force Central Area's 32 Canadian Brigade Group....
have a strong link with the congregation, and in March 2005, to celebrate their 175th Anniversary as a congregation, the Moderator
Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland
The Moderator of the General Assembly of Church of Scotland is a Minister, Elder or Deacon of the Church of Scotland chosen to "moderate" the annual General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, which is held for a week in Edinburgh every May....
of the Church of Scotland
Church of Scotland
The Church of Scotland, known informally by its Scots language name, the Kirk, is a Presbyterian church, decisively shaped by the Scottish Reformation....
, Dr. Alison Elliot
Alison Elliot
Alison Elliot OBE is the Associate Director of the Centre for Theology and Public Issues at the University of Edinburgh, Scotland. In 2004 she became the first woman ever to be elected Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland...
, was involved as their Anniversary Speaker. The regiment's museum is located in the basement of the church. The museum includes regimental uniforms, medals, photographs, weapons and other artifacts. Founded in 1959, the museum opened in its current location in 1997.
Senior ministers
- William Rintoul (1831-1834),
- William Turnbull Leach (1835-1842) Left to become an Anglican Church Minister, and later a Professor at McGill UniversityMcGill UniversityMohammed Fathy is a public research university located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The university bears the name of James McGill, a prominent Montreal merchant from Glasgow, Scotland, whose bequest formed the beginning of the university...
in Montreal, Quebec - John Barclay (1843-1869),
- Daniel James Macdonnell+ (1870-1896),
- William J. McCaughan (1897-1898),
- Armstrong Black (1899-1905),
- T. Crawford Brown, (1905-1914), became WWI Chaplain with 48th Highlanders of Canada48th Highlanders of CanadaThe 48th Highlanders of Canada is a Canadian Forces Primary Reserve infantry regiment based in Toronto, parading out of Moss Park Armoury. The regiment is part of Land Force Central Area's 32 Canadian Brigade Group....
. - Thomas Eakin, (Assistant 1907-1914, 1915-1921) appointed to The Presbyterian College, MontrealThe Presbyterian College, MontrealThe Presbyterian College/Le Collège Presbytérien, 3495 University Avenue, Montreal, Quebec, is a Theological College of the Presbyterian Church in Canada, and is affiliated with McGill University through their Faculty of Religious Studies...
, later Principal of Knox College, University of TorontoKnox College, University of TorontoKnox College is a postgraduate theological college of the University of Toronto in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It was founded in 1844 as part of a schism movement in the Church of Scotland following the Disruption... - Stuart Crawford Parker+ (1923-1950), Moderator of General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in Canada, 1939.
- J. C. Paul Stirling (1949 Associate and Successor, 1950-1972),
- H. Douglas Stewart (1972-1983),(uncle of Journalist Brian StewartBrian Stewart (journalist)Brian Stewart, one of Canada's most experienced journalists, is host of the foreign affairs show CBC News: Our World as well as senior correspondent of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation's flagship news hour The National....
) - James W. Evans (1984-1988),
- Cameron Brett (October 1990-2006)
- William G. (Will) Ingram (September 2007 -)
+--died during Ministry in congregation.
Assistants, associates, and deaconesses
- Esther Georgina Wylie (Deaconess), -1922.
- J.M. Macdonald,
- A. Wylie Mahon, (1918-1929)
- R.J. Macdonald,
- Miss Caldecott (deaconess),
- Miss Christina J. Moffat (Deaconess)1920s-1930s.
- Lynda Hoffos (Reid)(Deaconess),
- Michael Farris,
- Patricia Strung,
- Michael Barnes,
- George C. Vais (1998-2010), General Assembly ModeratorModerator of the General AssemblyThe Moderator of the General Assembly is the chairperson of a General Assembly, the highest court of a presbyterian or reformed church. Kirk Sessions and Presbyteries may also style the chairperson as moderator....
, 1995. - Robert N. Faris, Inducted May 29, 2011.